451-440 Research Methods

This subject is not offered in 2003

Upon completion of this subject students will have the necessary skills to undertake their major honours research project. Through lectures and practical assignments students will explore traditional scientific methodology and processes leading to the development of a proposal to undertake research activity. Specifically, students will investigate different research paradigms, techniques for hypothesis formation and literature review, identify relevant geospatial statistical measures as they apply to research problems, research hypothesis testing and validation. In addition to these, students will explore project management methodologies;intellectual property, copyright, privacy and ethical issues for research; communication and presentation formats; and scientific writing in the form of abstracts, proposals, theses and journal papers.

Three reports totalling not more than 5000 words and one seminar presentation.